1) Self-Evaluation; 2) Researching your career choice; and 3) Developing a plan
"Self-evaluation"
Oh boy, what fun!? Seems today that everybody wants to 'evaluate' or psychologically 'mess' with everything we do, say or who we want to be. Ever get the feeling that regardless of what you do or who you are...someone wants to change it? Ever feel that there are countless different 'right ways', none of which seem to fit? OK, so here's another one? Nope. We don't want to mess with your skull, just point you in a direction that may help you in your job/career. Might as well do it, 'cause we spend more time on our jobs than in most other activities (unless of course you're under 30.... I think I remember that age!).
Self-evaluation can be the start of career planning. It's basically figuring out what will fit with you. Then again, 'self-evaluation' can be just another ivory tower, 'do this or be unhappy forever' type of 'think tank' exercise. Not here. We've taken all the psycho-babble stuff, and run it through a 'translator' so it will come out practical, and useful. Then again, you do have the option of skipping this completely.
The accepted 'template' of starting this inner-evaluation process is making a list or chart of your strengths and weaknesses. Topics can include: education, natural abilities (numbers, writing, organization, verbal presentation, voice, appearance, energy, ability to 'stick through the tough stuff', physical 'presence', leadership, charisma, physical abilities, learning speed, motivation, drive ....and the list goes on), and 'acquired' skills: knowledge through training/education/job experience, industry-specific knowledge, computer skills, software knowledge, drive/ambition/motivation, and....that list goes on also.
Start with all the 'good stuff' on one side of a sheet of paper (or for the spreadsheet pros...make a table). Then on another side of the paper a list of the (oooops, here it comes again!) weaknesses (ok, call it something else...less personal). Now, put this aside for awhile, we'll get back to it (hide it tho...it is personal).
Next: This IS tough. Be honest, there are no right or wrong answers. Do you want a CAREER or a JOB? What's the difference? Some say about 10-15 unpaid hours per week. From a more practical standpoint, a career is moving toward a goal. A job is what you do for a living. Is one better than the other? NOPE! Tell-tales: do you voluntarily look for ways to improve what you do with the idea that in 2-3 years you'll be in a 'more valuable' position? "Valuable" meaning to the company and, therefore, yourself? Do you read stuff on your industry, function, or go to seminars on your own? Do you watch for 5:01 every day, starting at about 3:00? Is your idea of 'planning your week' to start planning friday nite's itinerary on monday? It's 5:15, do you go to your boss and ask what else needs to be done to prepare for tomorrow? Do you think of ways to help the company make more money? (by the way....that is one of the ways to get a promotion). OK......occassionally I get into my 'lecture mode'. BUT...one is really NOT better than the other...it has to be right for you! Every company employs MORE job-oriented people than career-oriented people unless it is a professional firm of some sort (then it is still questionable). AND lots of job-oriented people do a much better job than the 'career-suits'. YOU CAN be HAPPY either way. Which fits you? (you can change later).
Moving on....
Whether it is for a career or a meaningful and rewarding job, you now need to assess your work preferences:
1) What do I really want out of a job, what I am looking for in a job?
2) What skills and attributes do I have that would qualify me for that kind of job?
3) What additional skills, training or changing of my attributes must I achieve to get this kind of job?
4)What will give me "Job satisfaction". Why? Is the answer something you think sounds right, or is it true to the real you? Will the answer be 'acceptable' to an employer?
5) Do I prefer to work in small or large groups? On a 'team' or by myself? Why?
6) How well do I work under pressure? When is "too much".
7) How do I want to be treated by my employer? Why?
8) What job or career goals do I have? Time frame? Why are those important to me?
Nifty little exercise hey? Let that one sit for a while also. Then go back and read it. Want to change anything? Try looking at it first thing in the morning, or when you get home from work (or school). If you have a different perspective then, ask why. Re-do your answers.
Now here comes the hard part (or easy for some). Take your list of strengths and non-strengths plus your answers to the 8 questions above. What obvious 'path' for job or career does it point to? Career or job path can be defined as 'functions' you would do well in Accounting, customer service, executive assistant, receptionist, supervisor, sales, graphics design, legal assistant....and the list continues. This starts the 'research part' of career/job planning (next). Hang on to your answers....
"Researching your Career Choice"
No, planning isn't over yet. Now we figure out how you're going to be happy...doing what kind of job. This part of the process entails some choices. The choices will be where you get some of the info. Maybe you already know a few areas (jobs/careers/industries/professions/functions) that would be of interest to you. Wonderful! Make up a list, or if you are still kinda 'open', make up a list of 'no's'. I guess the point here is to make up a list of something. The list comes from combining your '8 answers' with the first exercise and thinking about jobs/careers that would seem to fit.
THEN....here are the choices. We'll need to 'check it all out'. We can't all be experts in all job functions or careers. But people who are in those might be good resources. Find people who are in jobs or careers that may be of interest to you. Go 'interview' them. Ask about the functions. What does it take to be good? What about the rewards? What skills are necessary? How can they be obtained? What parts does this person enjoy/hate about their job/career? Who do they know in the same area? Satisfy all the questions you might have. Write down your impressions/feelings/thought for each one.
Go the library (you know, that place with lotsa books and dust). MOST libraries have career areas. Ask for some help looking up functions or careers. A decent guide can be the Occupational Outlook Handbook, published by the US Department of Labor. Find out as much as you can. Again, write down your findings. Look in the yellow and white pages for trade or professional organizations (most careers have them), like The Professional Secretaries Association. Call and ask if they have info on careers, or info on the profession. If you want to be aggressive, go and talk to someone involved in the group, or attend a meeting. "Network" with people. Go to a professional placement/staffing service. Ask them. Then it's time to have a little fun. Try the Internet! It does take time, but there are things that can be learned. Go to the links we have provided under www job links. Or, go to a search engine like Excite!, Yahoo, AOLFind, and type in the field, function, industry, job, career you are thinking about...and try the links provided. "Surf's Up!" It will be fun!
"Developing a Successful Career Plan"
You've done the basics: self-evaluation, research. Now to the "Let's get moving" part:
1) Assess your current job/career: How does it fit into your 'discovery' from the previous exercises? Can you get where you think you may want to go by changing something about yourself, getting more involved elsewhere in the company, or by learning something new? Maybe it might be time to look at your results differently. Maybe it's time to move on.
2) Set short and long-term goals: Progress is rarely by chance. Set a definite "I want to be" goal, then compare it to where you are today. What has to change? Need more training? Where, what, when, how? The best plans (personal and business) start with where you want to be by a definite time, making a commitment to the importance of the goal, and 'back-tracking' from the goal to where you are. Look at the path. How can you make it happen? Is it reasonable?
3) Set an "action" plan: What do you need to do. WRITE IT DOWN. Put time-frames to it. Put it on your calendar. Make sure you think through the 'action' you must take to get little steps toward your goals. Share the plan with someone important to you.
4) START: Don't wait. This is simple. The longer you wait for the less success you'll have.
5) Check Your Progress. As you go, make sure your stay on track. If your plan was too ambitious, refine it. Don't, however, let excuses get in the way. Be tough on yourself.
6) Evaluate your results: Take a close look at your actions. If you are not satisfied, re-plan, don't quit. Even businesses need to do this frequently. Be objective.
7) AND....if all else fails: Go to work for the Government. (hehe)
collected article from a web archive